What's Happening to your Forests?

In the Central Highlands this coming summer, thousands of hectares of native forest are scheduled to be clear-felled for wood-chipping, and the residue will be burnt. The creation of new access roads for enormous logging trucks will compound the problems caused by widespread clear-felling of our forests.

There are many detrimental effects of this type of wood harvesting. Some of these will last for centuries! In general, these effects fall into four main categories:

• ecological disturbance;
• reductions in quality and yield of water from catchments;
• destruction of opportunity to realise better economic outcomes; and
• loss of amenity for recreational use of our forests.

Destruction of Opportunity for Realising Better Economic Outcomes

It is well recognised that a major driver of economic development in Victoria is tourism, and opportunities should be seized to cater for the diverse interests of visitors to, and residents of Melbourne. While some seek active recreational outlets such as sporting events and spectacles, there are others who seek quieter and more reflective ways to enjoy their visit to our city. An outing to The Dandenongs affords this type of experience, and a visit to the 350 Block would be an ideal way to cater for those tourists who would enjoy a day of bushwalking in a quieter forest setting.

While recognising the contribution of the timber industry to the Victorian economy, the UBAG asserts that the 350 Block should be preserved in its current state - and this would require an immediate cessation of logging. Then, this wonderful headwaters area of the Bunyip River could deliver much better returns to the economy by reserving and preserving it for 'passive' recreational pastimes, such as bushwalking, gentle pushbike cycling, and the like. This alternative to logging should be encouraged by the Government, and the UBAG recommends that the 350 Block be appended to the Bunyip State Park as an interim management measure while its long-term future is discussed and determined through a process of community consultation.

The UBAG believes that the long-term economic gains from this alternative land use would far outweigh the short term returns from destructive logging of this block, and the UBAG appeals for strong community support - to express and promote this message to our MPs, municipal councillors, and other relevant decision makers.

JOIN THE UPPER BUNYIP ACTION GROUP, and begin writing letters NOW to your local papers and MPs to protect the 350 Upper Bunyip Forestry Block from any further devastation.

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